higher psychology assignment assessment task · in line with sqa’s normal practice, the following...
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Higher Psychology
Assignment
Assessment task
This document provides information for teachers and lecturers about the coursework
component of this course in terms of the skills, knowledge and understanding that are
assessed. It must be read in conjunction with the course specification.
Valid from session 2018–19 and until further notice.
The information in this publication may be reproduced in support of SQA qualifications only
on a non-commercial basis. If it is reproduced, SQA must be clearly acknowledged as the
source. If it is to be reproduced for any other purpose, written permission must be
obtained from [email protected]. This edition: May 2018 (version 1.0)
© Scottish Qualifications Authority 2013, 2018
Contents Introduction 1
Marking instructions 2
Instructions for candidates 9
Version 1.0 1
Introduction This document contains marking instructions and instructions for candidates for the
Higher Psychology assignment. You must read it in conjunction with the course
specification.
This assignment is worth 40 marks. This is 33% of the overall marks for the course
assessment.
This is one of two course assessment components. The other component is a question
paper.
Version 1.0 2
Marking instructions In line with SQA’s normal practice, the following marking instructions for the Higher
Psychology assignment are addressed to the marker. They are also helpful for those
preparing candidates for course assessment.
Candidates’ evidence is submitted to SQA for external marking.
General marking principles Always apply these general principles. Use them in conjunction with the detailed marking
instructions, which identify the key features required in candidates’ responses.
a Always use positive marking. This means candidates accumulate marks for the
demonstration of relevant skills, knowledge and understanding; marks are not
deducted for errors or omissions.
b If a candidate response does not seem to be covered by either the principles or
detailed marking instructions, and you are uncertain how to assess it, you must seek
guidance from your team leader.
c The term ‘or any other relevant response’ allows for possible variation in candidates’
responses. Always award marks according to the accuracy and relevance of an answer.
d ‘Explain’ requires candidates to relate cause and effect and/or make relationships
between things clear.
e ‘Analyse’ requires candidates to identify parts, the relationship between them, and
their relationships with the whole; draw out and relate implications; and analyse data
(possibly including calculations as well as a conclusion).
f ‘Evaluate’ requires candidates to make a judgement based on criteria to determine the
value of something.
g ‘Concluding’ requires candidates to draw conclusions based on a set of information
or data.
h The report should be between 2,000 and 2,500 words, excluding references, footnotes
and appendices. Candidates must provide the word count for the completed report,
excluding references, footnotes and appendices. If the word count exceeds the
maximum by more than 10%, a penalty will be applied.
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Detailed marking instructions Report section
Marking instruction Max mark
Additional guidance
Introduction Accurate and relevant descriptions
Candidates are expected to
carry out and interpret
background research.
Based on their background
research, candidates are
expected to describe the
aim and hypothesis of their
primary research.
10
A maximum of 8 marks can be awarded in a variety of ways where candidates use
background research to describe the psychological context for their own primary
research study.
For the full 8 marks candidates must include a description of a relevant psychological
theory/concept and a minimum of two related background research studies.
Award a maximum of 4 marks if candidates have provided no research studies (for
example, only descriptions of concepts/theories are provided).
Award a maximum of 6 marks if candidates have provided only one research study.
2 marks are specifically awarded for the aim and hypothesis.
For the full 2 marks the aim must clearly relate to the background research, and the
hypothesis must be operationalised with clear expression of the research variables —
this can be any hypothesis that is correct from experimental/null/alternative/
correlational.
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Report section
Marking instruction Max mark
Additional guidance
Method Accurate and sufficient descriptions
Candidates should identify
the method used for their
own research, and provide a
justification for the
selection of this method.
This includes identification
of the design (if applicable),
and of sampling and
materials.
Candidates should describe
their procedure.
10 A maximum of 10 marks can be awarded for the method section.
Candidates should include all relevant information for the method used in their primary
research in this section of the report; however, candidates may refer to appropriate
supplementary information contained in the appendices. This section must be sufficient
to enable the research to be replicated.
Award a maximum of 6 marks where candidates have accurately identified the method
and justified the selection of this method, which includes: identification of design
(where appropriate); research variables; extraneous/confounding variables; sampling
method; and participants. All materials should be identified (and must be included in
the appendix section to enable replication).
For the full 6 marks to be awarded, candidates must fully describe the procedure.
Award a maximum of 4 marks where candidates have given an explanation of how
British Psychological Society (BPS) ethical guidelines have been implemented and how
ethical breaches, such as deception, breach of confidentiality and risks have been
avoided.
Award 0 marks for general comments about ethics not related to candidates’ research
or for unethical research which has breached the BPS ethical standards, or if
participants under the age of 16 have been used.
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Report section
Marking instruction Max mark
Additional guidance
Results Interpreting and
presenting data/results in
an appropriate format
Candidates are expected to
use appropriate statistical
procedures and present
their own data/results in a
suitable format.
6 A maximum of 6 marks can be awarded where candidates interpret and present
data/results in an appropriate format. All relevant results must be included in this
section of the report; however, candidates may refer to appropriate supplementary
information contained in the appendices.
The 6 marks must be awarded in the following ways:
Award a maximum of 2 marks where candidates justify the choice of statistical
procedure(s). Justification must relate to candidates’ own data set.
Award 1 mark where candidates accurately carry out appropriate statistical
procedures, as demonstrated in their calculations (which must be included in
appendices).
Award a maximum of 2 marks where candidates present data in an appropriate
format(s). For full marks, a table and graph must be included, with appropriate title
and accurate labels and legend (if appropriate). These must provide enough
information to enable interpretation.
Award 1 mark where candidates provide an accurate statement on whether the
results support or refute the hypothesis.
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Report section
Marking instruction Max mark
Additional guidance
Discussion Relevant points of analysis
Candidates are expected to
provide an analysis of their
results in relation to
relevant psychological
theories/concepts and
previous research referred
to in the introduction to
their report.
Points of analysis can be
made anywhere within the
discussion.
Analysis requires candidates
to identify parts, the
relationship between them,
and their relationships with
the whole. Analysis can
involve drawing out and
relating implications and
drawing conclusions.
8 A maximum of 8 marks can be awarded in a variety of ways for candidates’ analysis of
results.
Award marks for each relevant analytical point made anywhere within the discussion
section of the report.
Points of analysis could explain:
analysis of results as candidates interpret them
how candidates’ results confirm or refute their research hypothesis
the possible influence of variables, other than the research variables, on their
results
how candidates’ primary research results relate to the psychological theory/concept
and the two previous research studies presented in their introduction
the implications of candidates’ primary research findings in terms of real world
application and/or suggestions for new research within this topic (new research
must be substantially different to candidates’ primary research)
candidates’ conclusions, including statistics (with the exception of correlation where
an accurate comment about direction or relationship must be included), where
appropriate
any other relevant response
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Report
section
Marking instruction Max
mark
Additional guidance
Discussion
(continued)
Relevant points of
evaluation
Candidates are expected to
evaluate their research.
Points of evaluation can be
made anywhere within the
discussion.
To evaluate, candidates must
make a judgement based on
criteria or determine the
value of something.
4 A maximum of 4 marks can be awarded in a variety of ways for candidates’ evaluation
of their own primary research.
Award 1 mark for each relevant point of evaluation.
Evaluation must be specific to candidates’ primary research and supporting reasons
must be provided for evaluative points made, for example ‘this is unreliable because’,
or ‘this is a strength because’.
A point of evaluation could include making a judgement about:
the design (if appropriate) and research method
extraneous variables that should have been controlled
validity and reliability
method of data collection
any other relevant information
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Report
section
Marking instruction Max
mark
Additional guidance
Other Appropriate presentation
and style
Candidates are expected to
present their research report
in the appropriate style and
format.
2 Award a maximum of 2 marks for presentation and style.
For full marks candidates must present their research in the style and format of a
psychological research report, written in the third person. The whole report must be
organised correctly, include a title, and all sections must be in the correct order, with
all appropriate information in the correct section. Candidates must use appropriate
terminology and the correct tense throughout.
References must be organised in such a way as to enable a third party to locate
information.
Total marks 40
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Instructions for candidates This assessment applies to the assignment for Higher Psychology.
This assignment is worth 40 marks. This is 33% of the overall marks for the course
assessment.
It assesses the following skills, knowledge and understanding:
interpreting and evaluating descriptive statistics in psychological research
using research skills to generate, select, organise, interpret, analyse and evaluate
information in psychology
using communication skills to present information, including a report on psychological
research
Your teacher or lecturer will let you know if there are any specific conditions for doing this
assessment.
In this assessment, you have to carry out a piece of primary research based on a topic you
have studied, and produce a psychological research report.
Your completed research report is the assessment evidence for this assignment and must
be submitted to SQA for marking.
You should begin the assignment when your teacher or lecturer tells you to start. Your
teacher or lecturer will give you a date for completing your report.
The assignment has the following stages. You have to:
review the topics and related research you have studied
from these, choose a topic for your own primary research
carry out background research on your chosen topic
plan your primary research according to the topic you have chosen, implementing
British Psychological Society (BPS) ethical guidelines
carry out your primary research according to your plan, implementing BPS ethical
guidelines
produce a report that conforms to the style and format of a psychology research report
In this assignment you need to know how to use appropriate research methods to carry out
primary research on topics in psychology. You should make sure that you can carry out
background research using a range of resources.
You should also be able to use psychological terminology and know how to use skills to
describe, explain, analyse and evaluate information. You need to use the knowledge and
understanding from the course, as well as the additional information your teacher or
lecturer provides you with that is specific to this assignment.
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The research report you need to produce for your assignment must conform to standards
for report writing in psychology. You must also comply with BPS ethical standards for
psychological research. It is essential that you are familiar with the most recent version of
the BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct which applies to all psychological research:
www.bps.org.uk.
The BPS Code establishes four ethical principles: respect, competence, responsibility,
and integrity. These principles are relevant for the assignment. It is important to ensure
that the research you conduct is ethical. Ethical issues should be addressed before
conducting the psychological research.
Do not use participants under the age of 16 in your research.
Resources
There are no restrictions on the resources to which you may have access when undertaking
this assignment. For example, you should refer to psychology websites, journals, textbooks
or research reports. You need to select appropriate information from your background
research to introduce your chosen topic and research aim.
You can work in a group or independently when planning and carrying out your research,
however the analysis of your results and production of your report must be done
independently.
Reasonable assistance
Your teacher or lecturer may give you reasonable assistance. For example, they can
provide guidance on:
your choice of topic — they will let you know if the topic is one for which there are sufficient available resources to enable you to complete the assignment
ethical considerations such as plagiarism or inadvertent internet access to illegal or inappropriate material relating to your topic
ways of setting out a report
Your teacher or lecturer will also give you one study which you can include in the ‘Introduction’ section of your assignment report.
You may ask your teacher or lecturer for clarification about this assignment task if you find
the instructions unclear. In this case, the clarification is normally given to the whole class.
At any stage in the assignment, reasonable assistance does not include your teacher or
lecturer providing:
model answers
any feedback on drafts, including marking
The assignment is conducted under some supervision and control. This means that although
you may complete part of the work outwith the learning and teaching setting, your teacher
or lecturer monitors your progress to ensure that the work is your own and that plagiarism
has not taken place.
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When you are ready to start the assignment you need to:
Review the topics and related research you have learned as part of the course
Think about topics you are interested in and related research that you could use as the key
research to base your assignment on.
Choose a topic for your own primary research
With the help of your teacher or lecturer, choose a suitable research topic. With your
teacher or lecturer, it is important that you consider the following:
the potential ethical issues related to the topic. It is important to ensure that at each
stage your assignment complies with BPS ethical guidelines
that you are not deceiving or harming participants or placing yourself at risk. Always
check your research plan with your teacher or lecturer and make them aware of all
ethical considerations and how you plan to avoid any potential ethical breaches
the resources available to enable you to complete the assignment
Carry out background research on your chosen topic
Once you have chosen a topic you need to carry out background research. This background
research will enable you to set your own research in a psychological context. You need to
show how your own primary research relates to a psychological theory/concept and
relevant classic and/or contemporary research studies. You must use background research
from a minimum of one theory/concept and two research studies to help you decide on the
aim for your own research, and devise the experimental or alternative hypothesis. You are
advised to keep a note of references, as you must provide a list of references for all
sources referred to in your report. Once you have sufficient information with which to
provide an introductory background for your own research, you can start the planning
stage.
Plan your research according to the topic you have chosen, following ethical guidelines
Working in a group, or on your own, plan your research according to the topic you have
chosen. When you have identified an aim and a hypothesis, you need to decide on the most
suitable research method to use (for example, experiment, survey).
If you have chosen an experimental method, you will need to decide the design of your
study, specifying whether you will use independent measures, repeated measures or
matched pairs. You should define the variables under investigation. For example, the
independent variable (IV) and dependent variable (DV) should be operationally defined.
This should include conditions of the IV and the meaning of the DV.
If you use a non-experimental method you should define the variables under investigation.
You should also consider the control of extraneous and/or confounding variables. You need
to identify the sampling method and the sample group/participants for your research. You
need to devise the materials required for your own study (you may use or adapt an existing
survey/experiment or choose to devise your own, taking account of and addressing
potential ethical issues). Remember to check these with your teacher or lecturer before
carrying out the research. You also need to develop a detailed account of the procedure to
Version 1.0 12
be followed when conducting the research, so that it could be replicated, and to
demonstrate you have implemented ethical guidelines.
You should check your research plan with your teacher or lecturer and make them
aware of all ethical considerations and how you plan to avoid any breaches of the BPS
ethical guidelines.
Do not use participants under the age of 16 in your research.
Carry out research according to your plan, implementing ethical guidelines
Working in a group, or on your own, carry out your research according to your plan. You
must uphold ethical guidelines at all times. On your own, you will need to choose
appropriate statistical procedures to analyse the data gathered, and decide how you will
present the results in your report. These results will be used in your report to show the
outcome of your research and if your hypothesis can be supported or refuted.
Produce a report that conforms to the style and format of a psychology research report
The psychology research report provides evidence that you have undertaken all of the
assignment stages.
You need to produce the report in the style and format of a psychological report. The
report must include the following sections:
title
contents page
introduction
method
— design/method
— sample/participants
— materials
— procedure
— ethical considerations
results
discussion
references
appendices
The voice used throughout the report should be passive: it should be written in the third
person and in the past tense. You must preserve the anonymity of participants and
maintain confidentiality.
Your report may be produced in written form or be word-processed. Whichever form is
used, the assignment must be submitted on paper to SQA for marking.
The report must be between 2,000 and 2,500 words, excluding references, footnotes and
appendices. You must provide the word count for the completed report, excluding
Version 1.0 13
references, footnotes and appendices. If the word count exceeds the maximum by more
than 10%, a penalty will be applied.
References
You must provide a list of references for all sources referred to in your report. The
references can be provided in any format that enables someone else to find the source of
information.
Appendices
You must include appendices in your report. These should contain calculations and
research materials, such as a questionnaire, list of items to be remembered, or a
photograph of apparatus used in your research. Appendices should only contain essential
information relevant to your report. They should not contain information which identifies
research participants, in order to protect their confidentiality and comply with BPS ethical
guidelines.
Assignment report checklist
A checklist is provided in ‘Appendix 1’ which you may find useful to ensure you have
included all relevant sections of your report.
Note: you are not required to use this checklist and you should not submit this checklist to
SQA with your report.
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The following table sets out how marks are allocated for the assignment.
Report
section
Max
mark
Mark allocation
Introduction 10 A maximum of 8 marks can be awarded for using background
research to describe the psychological context for your primary
research study.
You must include a description of a relevant psychological
theory/concept and a minimum of two related background research
studies.
A maximum of 4 marks can be awarded if you do not provide
research studies.
A maximum of 6 marks can be awarded if you provide only one
research study.
A maximum of 2 marks are specifically awarded for your aim and
hypothesis.
Your aim must clearly relate to your background research and your
hypothesis must be operationalised with clear expression of the
research variables.
Method
10 A maximum of 10 marks can be awarded for the method section.
All relevant information for the method used in your primary research
must be included in this section of the report; however you may refer
to appropriate supplementary information contained in the
appendices. Your descriptions must be sufficient to enable the
research to be replicated.
A maximum of 6 marks can be awarded for identifying your method
and justifying why you have chosen this method. This should include
identification of design (where appropriate); research/extraneous/
confounding variables; sampling method; and participants. Procedure
should be described and all materials identified (which must be
included in the appendix section of your report to enable replication).
A maximum of 4 marks can be awarded for an explanation of how you
have implemented BPS ethical guidelines and avoided ethical
breaches, for example deception and breach of confidentiality.
You will be awarded 0 marks if:
you only make general comments about ethics
your research is unethical
you use participants under the age of 16
Version 1.0 15
Report
section
Max
mark
Mark allocation
Results 6 A maximum of 6 marks can be awarded for interpreting and
presenting data/results in an appropriate format. All relevant results
must be included in this section of your report; however, you may
refer to appropriate supplementary information contained in the
appendices.
The 6 marks are awarded in the following ways:
A maximum of 2 marks can be awarded for justifying your choice
of statistical procedure(s). This justification must relate to your
own data set.
1 mark can be awarded for accurately carrying out appropriate
statistical procedures, as demonstrated in your calculations (which
must be included in appendices).
A maximum of 2 marks can be awarded for presenting your data
in an appropriate format(s). To gain full marks, a table and graph
must be included, with appropriate title and accurate labels and
legend (if appropriate). These must provide enough information to
enable interpretation.
1 mark can be awarded for an accurate statement on whether the
results support or refute your hypothesis.
Discussion
8
4
A maximum of 8 marks can be awarded for the analysis of results.
Points of analysis could explain:
how your results confirm or refute your research hypothesis or are
inconclusive
the possible influence of variables, other than the research
variables on your results
how your research results relate to the psychological
theory/concept and previous research presented in your
introduction
the implications of your research findings in terms of real world
application and/or suggestions for new research within this topic
(new research must be substantially different to your primary
research)
your conclusions drawn
A maximum of 4 marks can be awarded for evaluation of your
primary research.
Evaluation must be specific to your primary research and supporting
reasons must be provided for evaluative points made, for example
‘this is unreliable because’, or ‘this is a strength because’.
Version 1.0 16
Report
section
Max
mark
Mark allocation
Discussion
(continued)
A point of evaluation could include making a judgement about:
your design (if appropriate) and research method
extraneous variables that should have been controlled
validity and reliability
the method of data collection
any other appropriate point of evaluation
Other 2 A maximum of 2 marks can be awarded for presentation and style.
For full marks:
You must present your research in the style and format of a
psychological research report, written in the third person.
The whole report must be organised correctly, include a title, and
all sections must be in the correct order, with all appropriate
information in the correct section. You must use appropriate
terminology and the correct tense throughout.
Your references must be organised in such a way as to enable a
third party to locate the information.
Version 1.0 17
Appendix 1: assignment report checklist Report section Have I: Done
Introduction described the research topic?
described at least one theory/concept relevant to the topic?
described at least two studies relevant to the topic?
provided an aim for the research?
provided an operationalised hypothesis?
Method identified the research method?
provided a justification for this choice of method?
identified the research design (if experimental)?
identified the sampling method?
described the participants?
identified materials appropriately, where required?
given a full description of my procedure?
explained how I have implemented BPS ethical guidelines and
avoided ethical breaches?
Important: do not give any information that may help identify your
participants (confidentiality).
Important: you must comply with British Psychological Society ethical
guidelines. Unethical research studies cannot gain the 4 marks available in
the ethics section.
Report section Have I: Done
Results justified my choice of statistical procedure(s)?
accurately calculated these statistics (and shown these
calculations in appendices)?
presented the data in an appropriate format?
provided a statement on whether the results support or refute
my hypothesis?
Report section Have I: Done
Discussion analysed my results in terms of:
— how they confirm or refute my hypothesis?
— how variables other than the research variables may have
influenced results?
— how my results relate to the theories/studies described in
the ‘Introduction’?
— how my results could be applied in the real world?
— the conclusions drawn from my results?
evaluated my own procedures/materials/sample?
made these evaluations specifically about my own study?
provided reasons for each evaluative point?
Presentation
and style
formatted my report correctly?
included references?
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Administrative information
Published: May 2018 (version 1.0)
History of changes
Version Description of change Date
Note: you are advised to check SQA’s website to ensure you are using the most up-to-date
version of this document.
Security and confidentiality This document can be used by SQA approved centres for the assessment of National
Courses and not for any other purpose.
This document may only be downloaded from SQA’s designated secure website by authorised personnel.
© Scottish Qualifications Authority 2013, 2018